ADVERTISING FEATURE 5 THE vEHiclE: 1947 Morris Series E 8/40 THE ownEr: Jack Hopgood BY ASHLEY EARL WAR veteran Jack Hopgood is the proud owner one of the first commercial vehicles that was sold in Mount Gambier after World War II. Restored to its original state, Jack traded the 1947 Morris Series E 8/40 utility when he still had his business, Hopgood’s Garage. That was in 1950 and the vehicle was almost new. The utility was used for the business, first as a saleman’s vehicle and later to deliver spare parts. “It was painted and written in British Motor Corporation colours, with rosette and advertised the Morris agency of the business,” Jack said. Jack said the eight horse-power vehicle had a “hard life”. “It had many different drivers when it was used in the business, some were more capable than others,” he said. “It had two known roll-overs and a number of incidents - it was well known amongst the trade.” With gearbox and engine problems, the utility was once abandoned, with its last registration expiring in June 1970. After retiring in the mid 1980s, Jack decided to garage the utility where it remained unused until the 1990s when the restoration began. “I just had some inspiration and desire to restore it,” Jack said. “I guess it was part of my trade and has been a life long association for me.” However, it was 2002 when it all started to come together - with the aid of Roy Randall and Rod Fennell’s old Morris collection - the car was close to becoming registered. It was taken on its first public outing since the restoration in 2005 on a Mount Gambier Vintage and Veteran Car Club run, of which Jack was a member. The vehicle can comfortably reach 50kph. “It does have a bit more in it, but that is as fast as I like to drive it,” Jack said. It has been valued, by an insurer, at between $11,000 and $12,000. “I don’t know what it would be worth on the market, but it is pretty rare,” he said. “There is one or two sedans in Mount Gambier, but no utility like this one that I know of. “I do not have any need to sell it and while I can still drive it, I will keep it.” • ABANDONED: The 1947 Morris Series E 8/40 utility was abandoned after being used in Jack Hopgood’s business until restoration began in the 1990s. • BACK TO NORMAL: The 1947 Morris Series E 8/40 utility restored to its original state. stock clearanceON NOW AT DemO xv 2.0i • CVT Automatic • Reverse Camera • Sat Nav • 17” Alloys • Bluetooth • Sunroof • 54426 WAS $38,165 NOW $33,980DRIve AWAy • Special Edition FX Pack • CVT Automatic • Bluetooth • 17” Alloys • Reverse Camera • 54371 DemO xv 2.0i WAS $36,085 NOW $31,980 DRIve AWAy • CVT Automatic • 2.0L Turbo • Reverse Camera • Voice Recognition • 54464 WAS $42,980 NOW $38,980 USeD ImpReZA WRx DRIve AWAy CARLIN & GAZZARD SUBARU • CVT Automatic • 18” Alloy Wheels • Bluetooth • Reverse Camera • 54612 NeW OUTBACK 2.5I WAS $38,725 NOW $38,250 DRIve AWAy WAS $39,205 NOW $38,500 DemO fOReSTeR 2.0L • Turbo Diesel • CVT Automatic • Bluetooth • Reverse Camera • S404-BFN • 54584 DRIve AWAy WAS $38,980 NOW $36,980 USeD OUTBACK 2.5i • Automatic • 18” Alloys • Bluetooth • EyeSight Driver Assist • Reversing Camera • 25639 DRIve AWAy USeD xv 2.0i • 6spd Manual • Reverse Camera • Bluetooth • Voice Recognition • 17” Alloys • S342-BED • 54367 WAS $31,925 NOW $26,980 DRIve AWAy DemO xv2.0i • CVT Automatic • Reverse Camera • Bluetooth • 17” Alloys • S857-BEM • 54491 WAS $34,525 NOW $30,980DRIve AWAy USeD fOReSTeR 2.5i • CVT Automatic • Reverse Camera • Bluetooth • 18” Alloys • S378-BDN • 53988 WAS $36,500 NOW $30,980DRIve AWAy Carlin & Gazzard DemO LIBeRTy 2.5i • Automatic • 18” Alloys • EyeSight Driver Assist • Reverse Camera • Bluetooth • S403-BFN • 54564 WAS $33,485 NOW $31,980 DRIve AWAy Carlin and Gazzard 116-138 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier www.cargaz.com.au • Limited Edition • CVT Automatic • Leather Seats • Heated Front Seats • Reverse Camera • 54369 USeD fOReSTeR 2.5i WAS $38,400 NOW $33,980 DRIve AWAy WAS $31,980 NOW $29,980 USeD ImpReZA 2.0i CALL Wendy Webster 8723 8881 MOBILE 0413 005 593 EMAIL wendyw@cargaz.com.au Carsmart - 5 • Leather Seats • Sunroof • GPS • Reverse Camera • 25553 DRIve AWAy OFFER ENDS 30th APRIL 2015 664319 AUTO WRx exfReeTeNDeD WARRANTy exfReeTeNDeD WARRANTy exfReeTeNDeD WARRANTy e NeWyeSIGHT DIeSeL NeW AUTO NeW my15